Yahoo News Richard Osman compares refusing to wear face masks to not wearing a seatbelt: ‘These people will always be around’
Pointless star Richard Osman has compared people who refuse to wear a mask to those who protested at the idea of seatbelts being a legal requirement for drivers in 1983.
The co-creator and presenter of the popular BBC1 quiz show made his point on Twitter over the weekend, amid continuing debate about wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
UK prime minister Boris Johnson recently hinted that wearing masks in shops could become mandatory, as he encourages people to return to work.
His comments come after face coverings in shops were made compulsory in Scotland.
In the US, a number of viral videos have shown people being refused service or making a scene upon being asked to wear a protective face covering.
Osman tweeted: “I’m just about old enough to remember people refusing to wear seatbelts. They disputed the science. ‘It makes it harder to escape from your car if there’s an accident!’ All that stuff.”
He added: “These people will always be around. Wanting to prove they’re cleverer than you? I don’t know.”
I’m just about old enough to remember people refusing to wear seatbelts. They disputed the science. ‘It makes it harder to escape from your car if there’s an accident!’ All that stuff. These people will always be around. Wanting to prove they’re cleverer than you? I don’t know.
— Richard Osman (@richardosman)
A number of celebrities have used their platforms to urge people to wear masks to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
In a viral Instagram post, Jennifer Aniston wrote: “I understand masks are inconvenient and uncomfortable. But don’t you feel that it’s worse that businesses are shutting down... jobs are being lost... health care workers are hitting absolute exhaustion. And so many lives have been taken by this virus because we aren’t doing enough. ⠀
She continued: “I really do believe in the basic goodness of people so I know we can all do this BUT still, there are many people in our country refusing to take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, and keep each other safe. People seem worried about their ‘rights being taken away’ by being asked to wear a mask. This simple and effective recommendation is being politicised at the expense of peoples’ lives. And it really shouldn’t be a debate.”
Eminem recently hit out at people who refuse to wear face coverings in his Kid Cudi collaboration, “The Aventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady”.
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